📊 The plans below show the site of an airport now and how it will look after redevelopment next year.
How do you describe a map for a top score? Maria analyzes a perfect model answer, revealing the passive voice and comparative phrases that make the difference between a good and a great response. Don't miss it!
The two maps represent how Southwest airport looks at present and how it will be redeveloped for the next year.
"A good opening statement that paraphrases the description in the task to show a wide vocabulary. There is a mix of present tense and modal verb will to compare the pair of maps."
At present the airport terminal is much smaller and has fewer gates (8 gates) than proposed in the development plan (18). The current design is also less complex featuring only a cafe, a walkway, and check-in. By contrast, following development, the design will be far more complex with the addition of an ATM, a bag drop, and a car hire. New shops are also expected to be constructed in the area beyond the left-side passport control.
"A range of comparative phrases has been used here to draw comparisons, combined with sequencing phrases for the same purpose (eg. by contrast). There is a good use of passive voice towards the end of a formal description of the changes."
The present walkway will be replaced by a sky train which runs down the centre of the main gate area. Other facilities which will change their position will include a check-in (to be moved to the right side of the departure hall) and the current cafe to the left with an additional cafe to the right in the arrivals section.
"Passive voice continues with the use of modal "will" for future changes along with some good adjectives to describe the positions of the various cafes on the plans and distinguish them from each other."
Overall, it is planned that the airport will accommodate more passengers and will contain a greater number of amenities.
"A good overall description at the end to bring the text to a logical close and describe the general trend."